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Open Letter To Vietnam Vets and How It Applies Today
February 23, 2008
During the Vietnam War, I was in Junior High and High School. I remember watching television and seeing people protesting our Troops and thinking how horribly those people were treating them. In the small town I grew up in, you didn’t see the protests happening, but you could watch the cold shoulder that our returning warriors got when they came back home. Even back then, the media, as they do today, made it a point to concentrate on negative things and never once tell about the countless people our Troops went out of their way to help.
When the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq started, one of the first things that came out of my mouth, was that I would do everything in my power to ensure that our newest generation of warriors NEVER had to experience the hatred and degredation, that our Vietnam Veterans did, at the hands of their fellow Americans. I was already involved in Troop Support activities at the time, but got even more involved, because I wanted to make sure that our warriors knew from me that they are appreciated and supported for their sacrifices and for their service. I don’t hesitate to tell our current generation of Soldiers or our Vietnam Vets, that I appreciate their service and I know what they’ve sacrificed for our Country. I won’t stop doing that, not now or ever.
Even now the media goes out of their way to paint a negative spin on events occurring in Afghanistan and Iraq. I can’t stand to watch the news because of this, and it’s rare that I’ll set down in front of the television for more than a couple of minutes because of this. The folks in the media are well aware of the gullibility of the American public. They know that the majority of the American people will believe what they hear on television, consider it gospel and never check into it any further. So, they continue to manipulate the American public, because they know that they can… they’ve been doing it for years. That’s why we as milbloggers do what we do. Because, we want the American public to know that they can’t believe everything they see on television, especially in regards to Afghanistan and Iraq.
This morning, I went to check my email and found one from a member of the Gathering of Eagles in Texas. That email just reinforced my belief about the media and how they manipulated the American public during the Vietnam War and how they continue to do so today. That email is something that I’d like to share here, as I feel that, not only do our Vietnam Vets need to read it, but every citizen in our country should take the time to read it. It reminds us that we, as a nation need to take care to not believe everything we hear on the nightly news. That we as a nation, need to take the time to investigate for ourselves and not form our opinions based on what the evening news anchor decides that we should hear. Just to remind ourselves that we need to take care, that this generation of warriors and the future generations, never have to endure what their Vietnam era bretheren did and to remind us of the huge debt we owe the men and women who served during the Vietnam era.
OPEN LETTER TO VIETNAM VETERANS
Dear Hero,
I was in my twenties during the Vietnam era. I was a single mother and, I’m sad to say, I was probably one of the most self-centered people on the planet. To be perfectly honest. I didn’t care one way or the other about the war. All I cared about was me-how I looked, what I wore, and where I was going. I worked and I played. I was never politically involved in anything, but I allowed my opinions to be formed by the media. It happened without my ever being aware. I listened to the protest songs and I watched the six o’clock news and I listened to all the people who were talking. After awhile, I began to repeat their words and, if you were to ask me, I’d have told you I was against the war. It was very popular. Everyone was doing it, and we never saw what it was doing to our men. All we were shown was what they were doing to the people of Vietnam .
My brother joined the Navy and then he was sent to Vietnam . When he came home, I repeated the words to him. It surprised me at how angry he became. I hurt him very deeply and there were years of separation-not only of miles, but also of character. I didn’t understand.
In fact, I didn’t understand anything until one day I opened my newspaper and saw the anguished face of a Vietnam veteran. The picture was taken at the opening of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington , D.C. His countenance revealed the terrible burden of his soul. As I looked at his picture and his tears, I finally understood a tiny portion of what you had given for us and what we had done to you. I understood that I had been manipulated, but I also knew that I had failed to think for myself. It was like waking up out of a nightmare, except that the nightmare was real. I didn’t know what to do.
One day about three years ago, I went to a member of the church I attended at that time, because he had served in Vietnam . I asked him if he had been in Vietnam , and he got a look on his face and said, “Yes.” Then, I took his hand, looked him square in the face, and said, “Thank you for going.” His jaw dropped, he got an amazed look on his face, and then he said, “No one has ever said that to me.” He hugged me and I could see that he was about to get tears in his eyes. It gave me an idea, because there is much more that needs to be said. How do we put into words all the regret of so many years? I don’t know, but when I have an opportunity, I take it so here goes.
Have you been to Vietnam ? If so, I have something I want to say to you-Thank you for going! Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Please forgive me for my insensitivity. I don’t know how I could have been so blind, but I was. When I woke up, you were wounded and the damage was done, and I don’t know how to fix it. I will never stop regretting my actions, and I will never let it happen again.
Please understand that I am speaking for the general public also. We know we blew it and we don’t know how to make it up to you. We wish we had been there for you when you came home from Vietnam because you were a hero and you deserved better. Inside of you there is a pain that will never completely go away and you know what? It’s inside of us, too; because when we let you down, we hurt ourselves, too. We all know it and we suffer guilt and we don’t know what to do so we cheer for our troops and write letters to “any soldier” and we hang out the yellow ribbons and fly the flag and we love America. We love you too, even if it doesn’t feel like it to you. I know in my heart that, when we cheer wildly for our troops, part of the reason is trying to make up for Vietnam. And while it may work for us, it does nothing for you.
We failed you. You didn’t fail us, but we failed you and we lost our only chance to be grateful to you at the time when you needed and deserved it. We have disgraced ourselves and brought shame to our country. We did it and we need your forgiveness. Please say you will forgive us and please take your rightful place as heroes of our country. We have learned a terribly painful lesson at your expense and we don’t know how to fix it.
From the heart,
Julie W.
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[...] A Soldier’s Mind wrote an interesting post today on Open Letter To Vietnam Vets and How It Applies TodayHere’s a quick excerpt During the Vietnam War, I was in Junior High and High School. I remember watching television and seeing people protesting our Troops and thinking how horribly those people were treating them. In the small town I grew up in, you didn’t see the protests happening, but you could watch the cold shoulder that our returning warriors got when they came back home. Even back then, the media, as they do today, made it a point to concentrate on negative things and never once tell about the countless peopl [...]
thank you for blogging this i’m glad you are trying to spread the word. i remember how we were treated in the early 70s as well. i for one dreaded wearing my uniform in public because of the way 70 to 90 percent of the population treated us. and i can see it happening here where i live now outside of ft riley ks. the media treats their own people as heros over there and our soldiers like garbage. our soldiers deserve better. plus a large percentage of congress feel the same way the media does from what i see on the little bit of news i can stand to watch.
I pray one day, I will meet a Vietnam Vet and thank him. If not for them, my own country (Singapore) would be under communist. You might say almost all my freedom is owed to the US troops. Marines in WW2, going all the way to troops in Vietnam, and now, the War on Terror.
After reading the letter to the Vietnam Vets I feel compelled to send you my poem that I wrote to an Iraqi Veteran who lost three limbs. This is for all “Wounded Veterans”.
With a Tear in Your Eye
You gave your service; we gave you our praise,
You lived through this horror, now struggle through the days.
Your legs and arms, once straight and true,
The wages of war left them useless to you.
Now look up to heaven and see your flag fly,
You’ll understand freedom, with a tear in your eye.
No climbing the stairs, no chasing the dog,
You’re sitting there lonely, can’t rise from the fog.
You looked up to God for the answer to this,
He said, “Son, it was not I who chose this abyss.â€
Now look up to heaven and see your flag fly,
You’ll understand freedom, with a tear in your eye.
You cry and labor and shudder with pain,
I see you gave more for freedom to gain.
You committed your life, but you gave them much more,
I pray they forget not the horrors of war.
Now look up to heaven and see your flag fly,
You’ll understand freedom, with a tear in your eye.
You did it for country and God above,
You did it for peace, which we all love.
You fought to free families under the dome,
Of oppression and torture, they had no home.
Now look up to heaven and see your flag fly,
You’ll understand freedom, with a tear in your eye.
You’ll understand freedom, with a tear in your eye.
Lawrence “Pie†Matthew Piemontese
Vietnam era, USAF, 1964-1968
Mr. Piemontese thank you sir for sharing that wonderful poem. Thank you also sir for your service and sacrifice to our country.
I am glad that people are now thanking Vietnam Vets. I hope that the treatment they suffered was not in vain. We need to not let this happen to another generation of brave warriors. There is a Thank you and Welcome Home event here in Tennessee on March 29 & 30. Info can be found at http://www.ccvietnamvets.com
Most of my high school senior class served in Viet Nam. Both of my husbands served there as well. They came back physically- but mentally part of them remain there to this day. Riots, protests, violence leveled at veterans by the very US citizens they sought to protect. It was horrible- having to hide the fact you were connected to the military. People assumed you supported the administration. You didn’t. You just did your job. The nation as a whole committed the biggest sin of all- omission. No ticker tape parades like the astronauts received. No thanks from a grateful nation. Just humiliation and digust. Horrific apathy, taking benefits away, meager medical care, refusing to acknowledge that any psychological problems existed- let alone provide treatment for them. Families were expendable-after all, the military didn’t issue them to soldiers. I’m glad the more recent members of the military are shown respect and gratitude- I deeply regret that the veterans of the Viet Nam era did not get their due. Millions of women like myself beat themselves up- thinking it was us- something was wrong with us that he had such difficulty. In fact- we were wounded as well and just did not realize it. Remember- no matter how terrible it is that the conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are well over five years in length- Viet Nam was nearly twelve years of deployment. I’m sad at the families’ railing at the year long deployments; in my era it was one year at home, one year in country and then one year at home and one year in country- until the conflict was resolved. Those who protest, those who give ’sound bites’, burn flags, rage against foreign policy- do so because young Americans fought and died to allow them that freedom.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HAVE NEICIES AND NEPHEWS ON MY WIFE’S SIDE OF THE FAMILY WHO DON’T EVEN KNOW I WAS IN COUNTRY. SO I THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE LETTER. IT DOES MAKE ME FEEL BETTER. 101ST AIRBORNE DIVISION 4TH/ 77TH ARA AND 2ND 502 INF. AIRBORNE ALL THE WAY.
Mr. Carmean, THANK YOU sir for your service and sacrifice for our country.